Taffur Named Assistant Wrestling Coach

As a member of the staff, Taffur's duties will involve helping run all aspects of the program, including recruiting, scheduling practice plans and assisting with technique. His responsibilities will also contain a focus on developing the lighter weights and putting together an offseason competition and training program.

Taffur comes to F&M after wrapping up his career on the mat at Boston University as one of the program's most successful grapplers. A four-year starter, Taffur went 119-47 as a member of the Terriers to become the all-time wins leader.

The former 157-pound standout ranked as high as No. 4 in the nation for his weight class and wrapped up his senior season with a 37-4 record. He secured an EIWA title and fell just one win shy of All-America status with a 2-2 record at the 2014 NCAA Championships.

"With Nestor just coming off competing in Division I and the EIWA Conference, he will bring a tone of energy and enthusiasm to our room," said Rogers. "He was a very accomplished athlete and a leader in the Boston program and I am looking for him to bring a new skill set to our program."

A two-time team captain, Taffur was named the team's Most Valuable Performer in both his junior and senior seasons. He earned Boston's John B. Simpson Award, given to a male-athlete who demonstrated exceptional leadership, and was honored with the Male Student-Athlete of the Year Award following his junior season.

"We are extremely fortunate to attract such a wonderful person, athlete, competitor and now coach to our program," said Rogers. "I believe he will bring us to a whole new level in the near future and this hire is yet another step in the right direction for this program."

Taffur replaces former F&M assistant coach Matt Greenberg, who spent the previous five years on the staff and was instrumental in the renewed success of the program. He exits Lancaster in pursuit of earning his Ph. D. at the University of Illinois, where he will study sport management and was one of just two students accepted into the new Sports Research Lab program.

"It was a very difficult decision for him to leave the F&M Family but he has our full support and we wish him all the luck," said Rogers. " He played such a vital role in building the program to where it is now and he will definitely be missed but not forgotten."

Greenberg was involved in all aspects of the program with an emphasis on recruiting. He also served as the head coach of the 2013 U.S. Maccabi wrestling team that competed in Israel.